The June 20 2026 LCBO Vintages Release is one of the year's best so far in my opinion. A great Rosé selection at reasonable prices, a highly-rated Priorat, and a Platinum award-winning Nebbiolo to name just a few.
(This release is going to cost me a lot of money because I pretty much want at least one of everything here!)
Good wine doesn't have to be expensive! Use my (free!) recommendations to get the best wine for your money!
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Best Rosé Wines Under $20:
MAN HANEKRAAI ROSÉ 2025 WO Cape Coast, South Africa Vintages #43396 $14.95 I couldn't find any published reviews for this vintage, but the 2024 was scoring 90 points, so I think it is worth taking a chance on the 2025. This is a Syrah/Mourvèdre blend. Vintages notes say it has floral notes with red berries and hints of minerality. 'Impressive depth and vibrant acidity.' (XD - 3 g/L)
VAL SOLEU ORGANIC ROSÉ 2025 Rhone, France Vintages #37664 $16.95
This is scoring 90 among critics. It is fresh with notes of citrus and rose petal. Vibrant red fruit with citrus and grapefruit define the palate. Pair with Salmon with Citrus Cream. (XD - 2 g/L)
MUGA ROSÉ 2025 DOCa Rioja, Spain Vintages #603795 $17.95 This Grenache/Viura blend gets a 92 from Joaquín Hidalgo of vinous.com. It is still wound fairly tightly, but look for cherry and pear notes. The palate is fresh and energetic. Drinking window: 2026-2030 (unusual for a Rosé). (XD - 2 g/L)
VINCENT GÉRARD COTEAUX D'AIX-EN-PROVENCE ROSÉ 2025 Vintages #49422 $17.95 This is a good price for a Provence Rosé. This is a well-structured wine with flint and stone aromas. Fruit is subtle. Crafted to enjoy with food, such as Viking Cruise Poached Salmon. Score 91-Cody Wexler, Wine Enthusiast (XD - 2 g/L)
WENDING HOME ROSÉ 2024 VQA Niagara Peninsula, ON, Canada Vintages #51800 $19.95 This is scoring 90 among critics. It is a 53/47 Pinot Noir/Pinot Gris blend, which sounds intriguing to me. It had extended skin contact with the Pinot Gris, which resulted in enhanced depth and intensity. 8 months on the lees added complexity and texture. Look for ripe berries and citrus on the palate. Enjoy with Chicken Salad with Grapes and Almonds. Score-90 points, winesinniagara (XD - 3 g/L)
RAPAURA RESERVE PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2025 Marlborough, South Island, NZ Vintages #49380 $19.95 This is a lively rosé showing cherry, strawberry, stone fruit and some citrus peel. Beautifully balanced with a lingering, tasty finish according to Sam Kim of wineorbit.co.nz, who gives it a 93. (XD - 0 g/L)
Best White Wines Under $20:
MARKUS WALDSCHÜTZ STRASS GRÜNER VELTLINER 2024 DAC Kamptal, Austria Vintages #41073 $16.95 If you are a fan of Gruner Veltliner, you will like this price, since they usually start around the $20 mark. The nose is complex, showing floral and honey notes with orange and mango hints offset by meadow herbs. The palate is juicy, lean and elegant with lively acidity and tropical fruit on the finish. Plan to enjoy with food, such as Hot Honey Mustard Chicken Cutlets. Score - 91 (Peter Moser, falstaff.com) (XD - 5 g/L)
SANTA MARIA LEPIGA SOAVE 2024 Veneto, Italy Vintages #44319 $16.95 Treat yourself to a Soave at this price! It is a savoury varietal. This one is slightly smoky with a core of stone fruit. Light-bodied with 'refreshing' acidity and a polished finish.
Score - 90 (Aldo Fiordelli, jamessuckling.com) (XD - 4 g/L)
STONE BAY MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025 Marlborough, South Island, NZ Vintages #50782 $18.00 As usual, any of the NZ Sauv Blancs are a reliable bet, but the value award goes to this one. Lots of bright kiwi, apple and lemon on the nose and palate. It is intense with fine texture and a long, flavourful finish. Score - 91 Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz (XD - 3 g/L) EVA PEMPER SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 Vintages #48078 $19.95 Score - 95 (Decanter World Wine Awards, 2025) (XD - 4 g/L) is the runner-up!
MEGALOMANIAC NARCISSIST RIESLING 2024 VQA Niagara Peninsula, ON, Canada Vintages #67587 $19.95 If you're a fan of an off-dry Riesling, this one's for you! Look for ripe apple and pear with mineral undertones and hints of classic petrol. Balanced and refreshing with vibrant acidity. Get a few so you can watch it evolve over the next few years. Best Value Wine. Score - 93 (nataliemaclean.com) (D - 15 g/L)
Best Red Wines Under $20:
GOMERSAL SHIRAZ 2022 South Australia 49383 $17.95 This is ripe and fragrant, showing blackberry, cherry, fennel and cedar aromas. The palate is silky with good weight, texture and a flavourful finish. Sounds like a match for Beer Can Stuffed Burgers. Score - 93 Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz (XD - 0 g/L)
GÉRARD BERTRAND AN 806 CORBIÈRES GRENACHE/SYRAH/MOURVÈDRE 2022 Languedoc, France Vintages #394288 $18.95 This gets a 91 from Reggie Solomon of Wine Enthusiast, who describes an 'intriguing' combination of blueberry, plum and mushroom on the nose with pomegranate and cherry on the palate. Tannins are chalky, and the finish is showing wet stone and some minerality. Best Buy (XD - 4 g/L)
ZUCCARDI MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS MALBEC 2024 Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina Vintages #49616 $19.95 This is a robust red with elderberries and tar on the nose. The palate is fresh and fruity with fine tannins. Enjoy with Spicy Blackberry Ribs. Score - 93 (Jacobo Garcia-Andrade Llamas, jamessuckling.com (XD - 3 g/L)
Best Buy Sparkling Wines Under $40
CAVE DE BEBLENHEIM CRÉMANT D'ALSACE BRUT BLANC DE NOIRS AOC, Alsace, France, traditional method Vintages #25070 $23.95 100% Pinot Noir, look for delicate apple, peach, vanilla and spice. Long and fresh, enjoy with Salmon Spiral Pie. (D - 10 g/L)
Best Buy White Wines Under $40
GARZÓN RESERVA ALBARIÑO 2025 Uruguay Vintages #646802 $23.95 I tasted the 2024 vintage of this and was pleasantly surprised. The 2025 gets a 92 from (Victoria Daskal, decanter.com, who describes it as 'super-bright' with peach and lemon over salty minerality. 6 months on the lees adds texture and complexity. Overall, it is 'zippy and refreshing'. (XD - 2 g/L)
Best Buy Red Wines Under $40
VINCENT DE LA REMONDIÈRE MORGON CRU DU BEAUJOLAIS 2023 Beaujolais, France Vintages #48638 $22.95 This gets a 90 from Natalie Maclean, and Vintages notes call it a 'charmer'. Look for ripe red cherry and raspberry with subtle spice. Silky and vibrant. This would be a perfect match for lamb or Crispy Duck with Cherry Port Sauce. (XD - 3 g/L)
CLOS DE TAFALL 2022 DOQ Priorat, Spain Vintages #574616 $22.95 This is a fantastic price for a Priorat wine that often hits the $40 + price point. From 50-80 year old vines, this Grenache/Carignan blend, which are Priorat's signature varietals, is getting high praise and low 90 scores among respected critics. It is harmonious (one of the best adjectives a critic can use to describe everything in balance) with plum, cherry, herbs and red licorice notes. Fresh with light spices. Enjoy now through 2030. Pair with Sherry Tapas Meatballs. Score - 90 Alison Napjus, winespectator.com (XD - 3 g/L)
LA MARQUESA VALSERRANO CRIANZA 2020 DOCa Rioja, Spain Vintages #338863 $24.95 Here is one where the aging has been done for us. Look for plum, pomegranate and black cherry with pepper and cocoa. The palate has savoury notes of basil, oregano and thyme with some citrus and pomegranate on the finish. Score - 93 Ines Salpico of decanter.com (XD - 3 g/L)
MONCHIERO LANGHE NEBBIOLO 2023
Langhe, Italy Vintages #50758 $27.95
If you are a Barolo fan, you will want to know about this one. Langhe is the region that encompasses Barolo and Roero, among other regions. 100% Nebbiolo, this wine took Platinum and a 97 at the Decanter World Wine Awards, 2025. Decanter notes call it 'outstanding top shelf quality', showing earthy dark fruit, herbs and hints of salinity. The palate is textured with leather good acidity. Tannins are in play here, so I might be tempted to cellar this another year or plan to enjoy with food. (Hint: Nebbiolo always makes me want a steak!) The finish is long. (XD - 2 g/L)
Note: I spent an afternoon winetasting at Moncheiro winery last year. They are one of the largest and most sophisticated wineries in the region. One of their claims to fame is that many of their wines are used in Sommelier training to illustrate the varietal standards.
Cellar Selection
CHÂTEAU MAGNOL HAUT-MÉDOC 2023
Bordeaux, France cru bourgeois
Vintages #384271 $27.95
Dark fruit, along with earthy and stony notes float over dried herbs and green pepper aromas.
The palate is complex with red fruit, plum, tobacco, herbs and smoke. Tannins are firm, and the finish is lengthy. A classic Bordeaux here.
Drink from 2028 through 2036. Excellent.
Score - 94 (Cameron Douglas, MS, camdouglasms.com)
(XD - 3 g/L)
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FAQs
What Are LCBO Vintages Releases?
Twice a month, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) releases a selection of special wines they have chosen from around the world. They are not part of the regular stock that is replenished regularly. So if you see something that is good value, you need to order it or pick it up while you can.
I am WSET 3 Certified, and I use my experience as an LCBO-approved media taster to highlight good value wines. I also have the opportunity to taste wines from all over the world as showcased in industry Master Classes and wine tastings. See my About page for more details on my experience.
The Best Buy wines I recommend tend to be wines that score 90 or above and are in the $20-$30 ish range. I research the wines to see which are scoring consistently in the 90 + range. You can expect these wines to represent the characteristics of their varietal and region well; display some complexity, depth and length. I suggest food pairings for many of the recommendations because... that is what it's all about here at The Wine Lover's 
Kitchen.
Wines I call 'cheap and cheerful' wines are wines < $20 that are hovering around the high 80s to 90-point mark. They are not going to win gold medals in competition, but they should be a solid choice for weeknight sipping or dock or deck sitting. They also make for a good value choice if you are serving a crowd and your lively guests are too busy chatting to discuss the depth and length of their wine!
Premium Wine recommendations are edging up on my $40 limit. They may be 'entry' level wines of prestigious regions or producers. Often cellar-worthy and always wines that you want to pay attention to when you serve them to ensure you appreciate their complexities!
The $40 is a rather arbitrary level, but if you are spending more than $40 routinely on a bottle of wine, then you are probably a wine enthusiast doing your own research.
Decanter World Wine Awards taste and score wines according to their price bracket. So a 95 Score for a $20 bottle of wine means it is outstanding among wines 'in that price range'. Decanter scores from an individual or a panel are scored against the 'Gold standard' for that varietal.
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